Effective use of the outdoor areas to develop pupils’ skills across the curriculum
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Information about the school
Ysgol Beca and Ysgol Bro Brynach have been in a federation since November 2022. Both schools are located in a rural area. The schools are category 3 schools and both schools are Welsh-medium. A majority of pupils come from English-speaking homes so are introduced to the Welsh language at school.
There are 90 pupils aged 3-11 on roll at Ysgol Bro Brynach, with 8% eligible for free school meals and 4% of pupils on the Additional Learning Needs register. The school has 4 classes, namely a nursery and reception class, a Year 1 and 2 class, a Year 3 and 4 class and a Year 5 and 6 class.
Ysgol Beca has 49 pupils on roll, with 16% eligible for free school meals and 6% on the Additional Learning Needs register. It is a two-class school, with a foundation learning class and a key stage 2 class.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
Through detailed planning, it was ensured that pupils’ skills that are taught in the classroom are transferred during the ‘Gwener Gwyllt’ and ‘Llun Llanast’ sessions.
Description of the nature of the strategy or activity
At the beginning of the term, pupils share ideas about what they would like to learn within the theme. This leads to additional research and preparation for teachers to inform the teaching and learning pathway while pursuing the interests of pupils within the ‘Gwener Gwyllt’ and ‘Llun Llanast’ sessions. The outdoor provision in the foundation learning classes is also accessible to pupils throughout the day.
Pupils in key stage 2 are grouped according to their ability during ‘Gwener Gwyllt’ sessions. Purposeful challenges are set for pupils which focus on the six areas of learning and experience. Through this, opportunities are provided for them to develop literacy, numeracy and digital skills across the curriculum. For example, activities are provided such as:
- Launching a rocket and recording the height of the launch
- Mountain rescue, developing safety and lifesaving skills
- Using garden willow to make a shelter
Pupils record their work in floor books in their groups, which are differentiated according to the stage of development of the group’s pupils. As a result, a cross-section of evidence is provided, for example graphs, explanations, oral presentations, reports etc. Pupils present their work by using different methods that are suitable for their stage of development.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
There is now continuity and consistency in teaching in the schools across the federation. Provision is richer with purposeful co-operation and joint planning between teachers developing to become effective.
In order to ensure consistent practice across the federation, we hold joint planning meetings and conduct learning walks across the federation to see good practice and share ideas. During book scrutiny sessions, we scrutinise the ‘Gwener Gwyllt’ and ‘Llun Llanast’ floor books to scrutinise the development of pupils’ skills in rich experiences across the curriculum.
Pupils enjoy the outdoor sessions and are keen to complete challenges and tasks. They use their previous knowledge to complete challenges and then record their findings confidently individually and within a group. Various skills are developed and expanded through this method of teaching.
Progress can be seen in pupils’ skills as they develop their skills and previous knowledge to complete tasks across the curriculum in the outdoor area. They apply their numeracy skills purposefully across the curriculum and use what they have learned previously to complete the challenges. They use digital resources purposefully to record information and carry out further research. Their creative skills are also embedded beneficially across the curriculum, for example as pupils use natural resources to emulate the work of an artist. This method of teaching has certainly introduced and developed pupils’ skills in applying their skills across the curriculum with increasing confidence.
Pupils enjoy the sessions in the outdoor area and complete challenges enthusiastically. There is a buzz during these sessions, which shows pupils’ curiosity towards their learning. In the foundation learning phase, good practice can be seen in the use of the outdoor area throughout the day, with purposeful activities that spark the imagination and develop pupils’ basic skills successfully. Pupils are eager to go to the outdoor area on a daily basis.
How have you shared your good practice?
Members of staff at Ysgol Bro Brynach have already given a presentation to the county’s schools. The presentation focused on our method of teaching and delivering the curriculum, by focusing on the use of the outdoor area to enrich teaching and learning. They have also shown examples of the floor books across the federation, with staff at Ysgol Beca also adopting the floor books.
Pictures of the activities that take place regularly at school are shared on the schools’ social media platforms.